Why clearing your Android cache and cookies is a good idea

Clearing the cookies and browser cache on your Android phone may sound complicated, but it’s actually easier than you think. It’s a good idea to get in the habit of clearing this data from time to time, no matter what Android smartphone you use. (Yes, that includes Samsung Galaxy S22 and Google Pixel 6.) Whether your phone uses Google Chrome, Firefox or Samsung Internet, your browser collects and stores data every time you browse the web. This information compiles your cookies and cache and helps your phone quickly log in to your accounts and load frequently visited sites.

But this data eventually accumulates, taking up space on your phone, while probably including cookies, which are track your browsing history with the intention of serving personalized advertising. (I see ads for glasses after that visiting several online stores to compare prices and styles, as well as TV shows related to my YouTube searches.)

It doesn’t hurt to clear this data from time to time to keep your web browser healthy, efficient, and ideally store as few tracking cookies as possible.

Under Android, the steps vary slightly depending on the type of phone and web browser application you use, so below we’ll look at how to clear this data for the Google Chrome browser (often the default for many Android phones, such as Google Pixel line), Samsung ‘s Internet browser is often turned on by default Galaxy series phones) and Mozilla ‘s Firefox browser. You can also check out our separate guide on how to clear your cache in iPhone’s web browser in case you also have several Apple devices to clean.

Google Chrome

You can clear your cookies and cache from the Android version of Google Chrome by first tapping Button for more in the upper right corner of the browser, indicated by a column of three dots, then tap Historythen Clear browsing data. You can also access this from Chrome Settings menu, touch Privacy and security and then Clear browsing data.

Chrome also offers Basic and Advanced settings to clear your Browsing history, Cookies and site data and Cached images and files. You can use Time interval drop-down menu to select whether you want to delete the entire history or a selection from anywhere from the last 24 hours to the last four weeks. Tapping Advanced will also give you access to delete Saved passwords, Data for automatic filling of the form and Site settings. After selecting what you want to delete, touch the blue Clear data button and then will be deleted without any other prompts, so just make sure you shoot exactly what you want to save.

Read more: Discard Google Chrome and use this privacy-focused browser instead

Samsung Internet

There are two different ways you can clear the cache and cookie data of your Samsung internet browser. You can clear from the browser itself or go through the Settings app on your phone.

To clear while in the Samsung Internet browser application, first tap Options button in the lower right corner, represented by three horizontal lines, then Settings; scroll down to and tap Personal datathen tap Delete browsing data to get a menu with delete options. You can clear yours Browsing history, Cookies and site data, Cached images and files, Passwords and Automatic filling of forms in any combination. After patting Delete datayou will then be prompted to confirm your choice before deleting.

Going through the browser application itself provides the most customization of what you want to delete. However, if you want to access similar options from your phone’s settings menu, open Settings app and tap Applicationsthen scroll down to and tap Samsung Internet and then Storage.

At the bottom of Storage you get separate options for Clear cache and Clear data. Tapping Clear cache will clear the cache immediately, but Clear data displays a prompt that warns you that all application data will be permanently deleted, including files, settings, accounts, and databases. Although it does not specify cookies, this “exit to nuclear” approach should erase all other data, which allows you to restart Samsung’s Internet browser as if it were brand new.

Read more: Change these Android settings to get the most out of your phone

Mozilla Firefox

Like Google Chrome, you can clear cookies and cache from the Mozilla Firefox app for Android. To access this feature, tap | More ▼ button to the right of the address bar, again symbolized by three vertically aligned dots. Then tap Settings and scroll down to Delete browsing data.

Of the three browsers we discuss here, Firefox gives you the most options below Delete browsing data menu that allows you to delete all existing ones Open tabsYours Browsing history and site data, Permissions for the site and even yours Downloads side folder Cookies and Cached images and files.

Although you can’t choose a time range as you can for Chrome, you can be more specific about the type of data you want to remove.

Read more: Browser privacy settings to change as soon as possible in Firefox, Chrome and Safari

And Firefox has an additional option for those who never want to save their browsing data after they finish the app. Inside the settings is a Delete browsing data on exit an option that instructs Firefox to delete any combination of these same settings each time you exit the application. This is a useful feature if you want to keep your browser tidy and, say, avoid accidentally passing your browser history to someone who may have stolen or otherwise gained access to your phone.

For more, see everything you need to know Google’s new operating system, Android 13including how to download beta now. Also, check out CNET’s list best android apps and several the settings you want to change on your current phone.

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